MODOT Director Pete Rahn Resigns

Intro:	Recently resigned MODOT Director Pete Rahn will take a job with a Kansas City based engineering firm which won some state transportation contracts
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Wrap: The company HNTB won several Missouri Department of Transportation contracts while Rahn served as director.

Those contracts included fixing bridges throughout the state and even work on the recently completed I-64.

Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Chairman Rudy Farber says Rahn's relationship with HNTB didn't lead to preferential treatment.

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Description: "I think that our contracting procedure really is one without bias."

Farber said the search for an interim director already started.

From Jefferson City, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	MODOT Director Pete Rahn resigns to take a job a with a company that received state transportation contracts for highways and bridges.
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Wrap: The former MODOT Director took a job with HNTB - a Kansas City based engineering firm.

That company won state contracts to work on I-64 and to fix bridges.

According to the Highways and Transportation Commission Chairman Rudy Farber, HNTB never influenced Rahn's decisions.

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Description: "I think that it is. . . One would be wrong to think that anything of that nature went on."

Rahn became MODOT Director in 2004.

Farber said it is always difficult to hold on to good people and that the commission already started a search for an interim director.

From Jefferson City, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Resigning MODOT Director Pete Rahn says one of the big reasons he's entering the private sector is to spend more time with his grandson.
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Wrap: 2 hours. That's how much time MODOT Director Pete Rahn says he's spent with his one year old grandson.

Rahn's new job with the engineering firm HNTB will move him to New Mexico where his grandson lives with his parents.

HNTB only recently presented a job opportunity.

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Description: "My initial conversation with them in earnest about this job probably started probably a month to a month and a half ago."

Rahn says HNTB has a very strong relationship with MODOT in working on highways and bridges.

Pete Rahn will officially step down as MODOT director, April 23.

From Jefferson City, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Pete Rahn says there was never a conversation about taking a job with HNTB when negotiating MODOT contracts.
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Wrap: The Kansas City based engineering company HNTB offered Pete Rahn a job only recently according to the outgoing MODOT director.

He continued to say he never swayed MODOT officials to select an HNTB bid.

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Description: "I have never influenced the selection of a contractor or consultant - HNTB or any other - for any reason."

Rahn told the state highways and transportation commission two weeks ago about his decision to leave.

As he steps out the door, Rahn says toll roads will be key to Missouri's future if it wants to keep improving roads around the state.

From Jefferson City, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.